Burkina Faso: 26th Meeting of WAEMU Courts of Audit, for more rigorous and accountable public governance
From July 14 to 18, 2025, Ouagadougou—the capital of Burkina Faso and headquarters of the WAEMU Commission—is hosting the 26th annual statutory meeting of the Presidents of the Courts of Auditors of member states and advisers to the Union’s Court of Auditors. This meeting, held under the theme “Strengthening Accountability for Responsible and Modern Public Governance”, takes place in a regional context marked by major economic and security challenges, particularly for the member countries of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
The objective of this session is to evaluate public financial control systems and analyze the results achieved over the past fiscal year. At the opening of the proceedings, the First President of Burkina Faso’s Court of Auditors, Latin Poda, painted a concerning picture: public finances under heavy pressure due to rising social demands and budgetary constraints related to security.
According to him, these challenges require a paradigm shift in the management of public finances within the WAEMU region. He particularly emphasized the vital role of the Courts of Auditors in identifying mismanagement, issuing recommendations, and restoring trust between citizens and institutions.
“It is no longer enough to simply point out irregularities; we must anticipate, raise alerts, and enforce the recommendations”, he stressed, calling for increased rigor even during times of crisis. For Latin Poda, financial jurisdictions must remain strongholds against fraud, corruption, and poor governance, while also contributing to the fight against terrorism by depriving armed groups of illicit resources.
The first edition of this meeting was held in Dakar in 1999. Since then, it has served as a lasting framework for cooperation among the Union’s financial jurisdictions, in support of transparent, credible governance focused on the well-being of the population.
